According to reports from The Times, in-demand defender John Stones is eager to remain in the northwest of England should he decide to leave Everton during the summer.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting home-grown talents in the Premier League since moving to Goodison Park from Barnsley in January 2013, boasting rare skill and agility for an English centre-half.
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A host of major European clubs have been linked with his signature since the start of last summer, not least including Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Chelsea have been tipped to revive their interest at the end of the season, after seeing a series of bids for the 6 foot 2 centre-half – the most lucrative believed to be worth around £38million – rejected by the Toffees in summer 2015.
But according to The Times, the £50million-rated England international is keen to remain in the northwest if he leaves Everton. Although he isn’t explicitly ruling out a move abroad or to London, Stones’ preference is to stay as close to his Yorkshire-based family as possible – which obviously plays to the advantage of the northwest’s two biggest clubs, City and United.